Heidi and Lyle Troyer, unable to conceive a much-wanted child, are given an opportunity to adopt a baby. Like all things in life, circumstances begin to pile up, and Heidi needs an outlet, so once again she opens her home to six strangers wanting to learn more about Amish food.

Each person in the story is as different from one another as possible. The cooking class consists of three men and three women. The men include a food critic hiding his true identity, an avid hunter and a school janitor. The women include a mother of two small children, a woman wanting ideas for her catering business and a teenager stressed out from having to keep her family together after her mom walks out on them.

I enjoyed finding out about Heidi’s previous students, whom we met in book one, The Seekers (The Amish Cooking Class Series). I felt like I was catching up with old friends.

Wanda Brunstetter’s ability to portray her characters makes you feel as if they are your next-door neighbors. However, one aspect of her writing that is a little off-putting is the way she jumps from one character to another in each chapter. Sometimes focusing on several characters helps show readers how the different individuals interact, but sometimes it is hard to determine which individual the author is referencing.

The Blessing is the second book in the series; however, it works well as a standalone.

There are two bonuses in the back of the novel. First, Miss Brunstetter includes the Amish recipes Heidi taught her students. Second, she lists discussion questions.

I received this book from NetGalley and Barbour Publishing. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

I liked this book, although not as much as the first, I felt there was too much back story on Kendra, a little bit was fine but I thought it was overdone, I also thought it was a bit cruel of her to keep bringing the baby to the Troyers' house after she changed her mind, again the recipes at the end was good, there were a lot of out of order words and sentences in the book that made it a bit hard to read a couple of pages in the middle of sentences the authour's name was inserted ?? , all in all an okay book.

The Blessing is second in the series Amish Cooking Class. I have enjoyed this series. Many lives are involved and changes happen in each individuals lives. More let downs in Heidi's life so her husband suggest she does another cooking class to occupy her mind and time. This one has people of all kinds in it from a teenager trying to help a divorced father. A food critic and a caterer. Then we have the hunter wanting to find new things to feed his buddies. A wife was given an unwanted gift of this class. Each has something going on their lives how can the class help them and the scriptures that seem perfect for them on the back of the recipe? Can Heidi's broken heart be mended? Wanda always writes great inspirational books. I fully enjoy the recipes given in the book also. (less)

What better way for a woman to share her love of cooking than by teaching others. Heidi Troyer was a wonderful cook who decided to invite people into her home for cooking lessons. Her Aunt Emma was a master quilter and to help conquer her loneliness as a widow she started teaching others to quilt. Heidi knew that Emma got much more in return from her students than just seeing their completed projects. So, Heidi, in turn, prayed that by giving simple cooking lessons she could bless others while adding purpose to her own life. Her first classes were successful so she planned to teach another series of lessons.

She and her husband Lyle have been married nearly nine years yet remain childless. After years of longing for a child, they are looking forward to adopting a baby. As things happen in life, the best laid plans don’t always come to fruition. Disappointed and hurt, Heidi buoyed herself with her deep faith and strength of character to overcome the sadness after learning the adoption fell through. With Lyle’s encouragement, she went ahead with her plans teach another series of classes. The first day of class brought an unexpected mix of eager students. From the lonely wife of a policeman to a teen struggling to fill the shoes of the mother who walked out on the family, Heidi welcomes them all to her home. Even her mailman smelled the delightful aromas and wanted to join in. Women and a few men who wanted to prepare tasty meals unwittingly found so much more in the Troyer's kitchen.
Each week as Heidi wrote out the weekly recipe for the class she tucked a verse of scripture on the back of t. Devout in her faith, she prayed that someone among the group would read and need that verse before the next class. Oftentimes, the students would gather and share how uncannily a verse resonated and hit home.

In her simple yet faithful way, Heidi made an impact on those who took her class. I read the first book in the series, Amish Cooking Class - where it all began when one woman decided to step out in a leap of faith to make a difference. I enjoyed the quiet way she listened, taught and prayed for her students. So much more was going on than mixing, baking and preparing food. A ragtag group of unlikely people came together as strangers and came away as friends. Each one with their own story.

I invite you to see your yourself by picking up this wonderful book. I was pleased to read the Amish Cooking Class - The Blessing, by Wanda Brunstetter for review for an unbiased review.

Heidi is back as a cooking teacher, giving much more than just cooking lessons.  Six students from all walks of life take her class and learn more about themselves than they might about actually cooking.  Heidi and her husband are barren and the cooking class allows her an outlet for her talents as she waits on God for direction.  Her faith is demonstrated to the class members as she shares wisdom and Scripture each session.
Characters from book 1 are mentioned in the story.  Other than Heidi’s storyline, it is possible for a new reader to start the series with this book.

The Blessing by Wanda Brunstetter is The second book in The Amish Cooking Class series . Spending time reading this book is like visiting with old friends as we revisit some of the characters from her first book in this series and catch up with their lives. We also meet a new cast of characters that Heidi open her Ohio home to as she teaches her 6 new students in a cooking class. There are 3 men and 3 women from all walks of life. They get to know each other and form friendships and just maybe a romance will develop slowly for a few of them. Wanda really pours her heart into her books and makes the characters come alive for us and we get to know them. I felt a lot of emotions as I read this and was glad to see the characters lives taking a turn for the better through hard work,faith,forgiveness and perseverance. Very enjoyable book and I look forward to getting to know the characters in Wanda's book 3 in the series when it releases.
Pub Date 01 Aug 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing, Inc. for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Love Amish books, and love the main character Heidi (and her husband Lyle). Brunstetter does a good job writing dialogue and action for this married couple without children. I enjoyed Heidi’s cooking classes and her visits with friends. But the secondary characters…. oh my. The unrealistic, over the top, and inconsistent personalities drove me crazy. I struggled to get through their stilted dialogue. The only reason I finished is because I always need to know how a book ends! Plot and main characters get 4 stars from me, but the execution of secondary character development completely failed.

Wanda E. Brunstetter never disappoints in providing a heartwarming read.

In book two of The Amish Cooking Class, she introduces 6 new members of Heidi's Saturday morning cooking classes. Heidi is able to teach her students some new Amish recipes as well as share God's word.

My favorite character is teenager Nicole. Since her mom left she has become the "mom" of the household and cooks all the meals. Her family is ready for some new dishes and her dad finds Heidi's class. Over six weeks Nicole will learn more than cooking from Heidi. Will forgiveness be one of her learning experiences?

My least favorite character is Todd. Why? Because he is so full of himself. At times I found myself yelling at him to get over himself. Will Heidi be able to teach him that the world does not revolve around him?

I loved that Wanda brought back Kendra throughout the entire book. I cannot wait to see if she continues her story in the next book. I want to know what happens with the new love interest in Kendra's life. (Hint, Hint)

I cannot wait to try the recipes in the back of the book, especially Chicken in a Crumb Basket. It sounds yummy and I think my picky teenager might even like it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my own and honest review.

www.kentuckybooklover.com

Lyle and Heidi open their home once again to a cooking class. Will this class get as much out of the class as her last one? Not only did they learn how to cook but they also learned life lessons through Heidi's scripture posts on the recipes. However, with this class Heidi is working with a broken heart. She and Lyles' dream has been dashed. While she is happy the young Mom's prayers have been answered, her heart breaks for her own loss. Will her heart be healed as she tries to help others? Will she and Lyle ever get their happily ever after.

I love how Heidi and Lyle open their home to others. I look forward to another class soon.

I received a copy through Netgalley. My review was not required.

The Blessing is the second book in The Amish Cooking Class series by Wanda Brunstetter. I may have liked this book a bit better than the first installment, The Seekers. Though I had such a soft spot in my heart for some of the characters from the first book, this one was better developed.

Don't get me wrong, both are fantastic and the writing is spot on in both books. But, I'm better acquainted with Heidi and Lyle this time around. Returning to their story felt like a visit with old friends.

I appreciate that Wanda revisits some of the characters from The Seekers. There is the inclusion of Kendra and her adorable baby girl. Loretta is settling into life in Heidi's community as she is taking the classes to become Amish. Additionally, she and Eli are now a couple and plan to marry in the future. Even Ron and Charlene's whereabouts are touched upon—though less so than the others.

The new group of students bring their own set of problems to Heidi's table. And the Lord uses Heidi to instill wisdom and trust in their hearts.

This is a heartwarming tale of love that will leave you feeling the cozy warmth of friendship.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Barbour Publishing, Netgalley, Wanda's Clippity Clop Club. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.

This new treasure by Wanda Brunstetter is a real gem. Better than the last one in the series.

Heidi is up doing another cooking class after another heartbreak. And, like the first novel, we get to meet multiple new characters each facing a problem. Todd, a food critic who is a married to his work; Lisa, a single woman with a struggling catering business; Nicole, a teenager forced to grow up too fast to replace her mother in her family's life; Bill, a lonely janitor; Ally, a mother who suspects her husband is cheating on her; Lance, who has a brother who gets on his nerves constantly; and Kendra from the last book trying to live her life as a single mother.

This book is really enlightening, portraying real life situations (and one particular that hits home with me). You will not be able to put this book down.

I recommend it for everyone.

Back with Heidi and Lyle as she gears up for a new cooking class, they revisit (sometimes ever so briefly by letter) with the previous students and we meet an entire new group of students. Might as well meet them right? Allie is the wife of a cop with two young children. Honestly? She annoyed me a bit. Lisa, a caterer, is interesting and I'd like to know more about her. Todd, the restaurant critic, is about as arrogant and self-important as you can imagine he is. Bill, the head janitor confuses me a bit. I can't get a good initial read on him. Nicole, just a teenager with adult responsibilities on her plate, is everything a teenager is. But she kinda annoys me too. And a late addition to the class is Lance, the mail carrier, who leaves me a bit confused and I don't really feel the bond with him positive or negative.

I feel like this book may be a smidge better than the first one (The Seekers) but it's a toss up really. Wanda develops the characters so well and despite the limited time each character truly gets she builds great backstories that merge well into the kitchen. Kendra is back with a precious baby while Loretta has joined the Amish faith officially. It was like settling in with old friends again while learning new people and getting glimpses of past people. I loved seeing how Heidi takes her simple charm, her innocent confidence, and her open heart and opens up the students to herself and each other. The ending left room for a third book and for that I am super excited to find out about. Wanda just makes you feel good and this series is a warm hug each time you get to settle in and chat with Heidi and her students.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Wanda E. Brunstetter through Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Loved this! But, then, I love Amish fiction and Wanda E Brunstetter. Second book in a series about Heidi who is Amish and is giving cooking classes. Heidi and her husband, Lyle, has received very disappointing news, but Heidi decided to give a second series of cooking classes. She hopes to be able to a blessing to each person in her class and writes a scripture on the back of each recipe card she hands out at the end of class.
A fantastic read!

Encouraged by her husband Lyle, Heidi returns to holding her cooking classes after a heartbreaking decision changes the course of their life. Taking on six students seems to give her hope again and a new chance to share her love of cooking. Each student has different reasons for taking the class, and soon form friendships that bond them in many ways.

Since I really enjoyed the first book, I was happy the opportunity came up for me to read this one as well. Each character has their own unique personalities to add to the story. Heidi again shares scriptures on the back of the recipe cards she sends home with them, and I love how they touched each person. She shares her gentle faith and encouragement and you can see how they blossom under her tutelage. There's even a bit of romance at play! Made me smile throughout the book. Well-developed characters, yummy recipes in the back of the book to try, friendships formed, and gentle faith shared changes the lives of all in this delightful story. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing/NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review. *

The Blessing is 2nd in the Amish Cooking Class series, and I like it even better than the first. It is so well written that I can almost see Heidi’s neat, efficient kitchen with scents of coffee, tea, and spices. The characters are likable, and their lives begin to intertwine in exciting ways.

Heidi Troyer and her husband Lyle have been married for several years but have not had a child. She held her first cooking class series in “The Seekers”; it shared her knowledge and prayers while giving her something to focus on. The first class was very successful. The students were better, more confident cooks and grew closer to the Lord. A stellar outcome is that one of the students, pregnant and alone, came to live with Heidi until her baby would be born. Kendra was confident the Troyers would provide an excellent home and chose them to adopt her baby.

The Troyers prepared for a newborn in their home. Before the birth, Kendra’s father calls and gave permission for her to return home, have her child and get on her feet again. Thus, she returns home and decides that since she can live with her family, she will also keep her baby. Heidi is heartbroken, but understands.

Heidi starts another cooking class series with six new students with a diversity of ages and backgrounds. She continues to teach how to make various Amish dishes, giving each student a recipe card with the recipe of the day, with a scripture verse on the back of the card. She has not asked if anyone has a faith background; she simply shares a scripture meaningful to her and leaves the results to the Lord.

The members of this class have shared little about themselves. One young woman, a caterer, is happy to have new ideas to offer her clients. A single man plans to make some of the foods when he and his buddies go deer hunting. One woman, the wife of a police detective, unknowingly shares a potential treasure to Heidi: there is a need for good, qualified foster homes.

Most people we meet in the novel are Heidi’s students and their families. Heidi is well defined, and we learn quite a bit about each student as we see an overview of their most challenging moments between classes. Dialog is the primary means of defining each character. I would love to have Heidi for a neighbor; she has so much to offer students of all ages.

This novel drew me in from the first page with realistic characters and situations, and didn’t let go until turning the last page. Each character has at least one, some several, conflicts. Seeing how each handles their pain or frustration shows the reader that no matter how great a life looks from the outside, there is always something painful from the inside. Whether Heidi learns about it or not, the scripture verses get into the heart of each student. This is a delightful novel, showing real challenges people face, some life and death. As in the first in series, I like how the author shows the prayers of those who have relationships with the Lord, and how Heidi tries to work through her grief upon. This author is a wonderful storyteller, with believable characters facing challenges that many of us do. She demonstrates how a person of faith walks and prays through challenges and the resulting miracles that can occur. I highly recommend The Blessing to everyone who appreciates contemporary Amish novels that share faith, friendship, and yummy recipes.

From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

I enjoy Ms Brunstetter's books, August 1, 2017
By Maggie

This review is from: Amish Cooking Class - The Blessing (Kindle Edition)
I very much enjoy Wanda E. Brunstetter's books, this one is no exception. Visiting the Troyer's farm again, with Heidi's new cooking class, is almost voyeuristic, wondering what she will cook next, and what problems will emerge and be solved. This is a thoughtful and soothing read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for loaning me a time-constrained e-ARC, with no obligations.

So enjoyed catching up with Heidi and her cooking classes, and with the start of this book she is about to start her second series of classes.
We meet the new students, and yes I had instant dislike to some of them, but keep reading. We go in-depth into their lives, and find out why they are like they are; will Heidi be able to influence them like she did the previous?
I loved that we are updated on the people we meet in the first book, but Kendra has devastating news for Heidi, so sad, but there are the lives of the others we met and find out how things are going for them.
Will this new group be as affected by Heidi and her sweet ministering, or will the first impressions be what happens?
We finish with some yummy recipes, and they will soon be making it to my table, especially the chicken crumb basket!
I loved some of the compassion some of these people showed to their fellow students, and the main lesson here is Forgiveness, so very hard to do, and how Heidi is able to lead them.
Another page turning read that you won’t be able to put down once that first page is turned.
I received this book through Net Galley and Barbour Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.

I felt like I was visiting old friends and meeting new ones as I was reading The Blessing and one of the things that stands out to me is the way we get to know the main characters is through the conversations they have with secondary characters.
Heidi is preparing for her second cooking class after a heartbreaking situation and her students are taking the class for a variety of reasons.  Just as in the first book, Heidi shares not only her recipes, but she shares a Bible verse with each dish they cook.  She opens not only her home, but her heart, too.
While reading this book, there were times that I wish that I could join Heidi’s class and experience her style of cooking, her cozy home  and more her importantly  her genuine concern for others that have challenges of their own.
Readers of Amish and Christian fiction will definitely want to read this one and in addition to a great story, Wanda has included recipes from Heidi’s cooking class.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a review.

After reading and liking the first book in this series I was excited to see a 2nd book! I was given the opportunity to read the book (given for free from the publisher) in exchange for my honest review. I love the simplicity of the story and the focus on cooking. I've tried a recipe from the back of the book and it was pretty good. I'm excited to try the others. Loved the scripture included and the parts of the story relating to life change through the Lord. That was the best part of the story! Wanda has a great way of including scripture and the work of the Lord in people's lives in her stories. Love that. Also love how real issues are addressed. My high hopes were a little dashed from the first few pages. I had a hard time falling in love with the book. I felt like I was having a hard time reading each sentence. It was like there was too much detail jammed into one sentence and it was distracting. I had to read and reread sentences just to connect the dots. This was a huge distraction for me. I did like how the story started with Heidi and Lyle. But then it jumped into short bios/introductions of each of the people who would eventually be in the next cooking class. This was fine at first. The info was applicable. But then the amount of time spent on each of the class attendees started to be more plentiful than the main storyline about Heidi and Lyle. I wanted more info about Heidi and instead I got a whole bunch of detail about the side characters. I found myself skipping over these sections because I had a hard time seeing how they were necessary. There didn't seem to be any kind of real through story line. There were all these little story lines and the main story line was so thin and not developed. I was disappointed. I wanted to know more about Heidi and her husband and their family. I thought at a few points in the book that all Heidi's fatigue was going to lead to her being pregnant by surprise... but that was not the case. I think something like that would have really added to the story. I am just feeling kinda meh about this story...

I have been a fan of Wanda’s since I first read her books. I am glad that she hasn’t changed the way she writes and has stayed true to what makes Amish fiction so interesting to many. Her characters are well-developed and genuine and the stories she writes are interesting. I always feel like I’m getting a real glimpse into the lives of the Amish when I read one of her books. The Blessing fits the Wanda E. Brunstetter recipe for success and is a delightful read.

The characters we meet in this book are a diverse group of people. There’s a teenager, a single woman, and a married woman with children. Plus there are three men, a single man, a widower, and a man who is divorced and living the life of a bachelor. Each of these characters has their own reason for taking the cooking classes and we discover that reason as we get to know the characters. More and more of the characters’ personalities are revealed throughout the book. We also get to know more about Heidi throughout this book and catch up with the students from the first class.

I liked the pace of this book and the fact that the story jumps from character to character throughout each chapter. It’s as if we get to stop in and visit with each one for a bit. To me this made the story move along at a quick pace and kept the story fresh.

I have to say that I just love the cover of this book. It captures Heidi’s character perfectly. The colors are calm and soothing while being eye-catching. The cover is simple yet balanced and is one of the best Amish fiction covers I have seen.

Fans of Wanda’s books are guaranteed to love The Blessing and readers new to her work are sure to fall in love with her work after reading this book. Although this is the second book in the series and I would recommend reading book one first it isn’t necessary. This book could be read as a standalone as there is enough backstory provided to catch up with Heidi’s life and not seem lost.

I was provided a free copy of this book and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.